Make a donation today and help the children and families of this economically devastated area

Abundant Life International Ministries, Inc.Mission Statement

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the poor (meek): he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

Abundant Life International Ministries, Inc. of Bishop, WV was established in 2001 by Pastors Wayne and Kathy Osborne to serve, love and minister to the people of this severely poverty stricken area.

Childhood poverty in this area leads the US, where a staggering 53% of all children under the age of 18 live in severe poverty. This is nearly 3 times the national average. This particular area of the country also leads the nation in childhood illnesses. It is for these very reasons that we choose this area. These people need not only all of our prayers but our help as well.

Mission Pastors Wayne and Kathy Osborne distribute food, clothing, furniture, baby and school supplies to nearly 3,500 disadvantaged people annually. We are also a distribution center to many other churches of this area.

We Need Your Help Today!

Monetary Donations needed now for:Regular monthly sponsorship for the mission postFood ItemsRenovation of the Church and School BuildingOngoing need for children's clothing and toysAll donations are tax deductible.

About the area

New Mission Distribution Center

Bishop, West Virginia located in McDowell County was once a thriving coal mining community. (For additional information on this area visit www.wikipedia.org.) Many families were forced into severe poverty after the coal mining industry came to an end in the early 1980's. Poverty in this area is widespread and severe.

Infrastructure is poor. McDowell County comprises an area of 534 sq. miles but has only one U.S. Highway. County roads are poorly maintained due to low tax revenues. Municipal water systems serve a small percentage of the population and one in four does not deliver potable water. Flood control is poorly managed. McDowell experienced two 100-year floods two years in a row, 2001 and 2002 destroying 15% of the homes and businesses and leaving thousands of others severely damaged. Today, 1 home in six remains unoccupied. 67% of the households have no wastewater treatment, allowing 314,000 gallons of untreated waste per day to enter streams and rivers. That's 13 1/2 gallons per resident. EPA statistics indicate that 558 persons in McDowell are drinking untreated groundwater. They also concede that number is under reported.

Tax base is very low. 60% of the land in McDowell is owned by absentee corporations that do not contribute to the tax base, yet spend millions in lobbying to defeat legislation that would clean up the air, water and flood problems. Less than 6,000 persons are employed full or part time.

Winters are very difficult, especially on the children, many of whom do not wear shoes in warm weather to save what little they have for the colder weather. Many of the homes do not have gas or electric, leaving people to heat their homes with systems that are extremely dangerous. Fires are common.

About Appalachia

According to Wikipdia Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from southern New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. In 1965, the U.S. Congress created the Appalachian Regional Commission to help bring the poor areas of the 13 states of the Appalachians into the mainstream of the American economy. The commission is a partnership of federal, state and local governments, and was created to promote the economy and improve the quality of life in this area. (more info on ARC www.arc.gov)

As of this date, according to the ARC, over 91 of the 410 counties within this region are designated as economically distressed. Distressed counties are defined as ones where poverty and unemployment rates are at least 150% of the national averages and where per capita market incomes are no more than 2/3 of the national average. Additionally, counties are also considered distressed if they have poverty rates that are at least twice the national average and they qualify on either the unemployment or income indicator.

This is totally unacceptable and, although the ARC has helped, it has simply not done enough, leaving many families in need of your help.

You can help changes the lives of hundreds of children by donating today!

Special Thanks

Squire Church

Mission Pastors Wayne and Kathy Osborne wish to say thank you to the wonderful individuals, churches and civic groups as well as the, Christian schools, and Northeastern Tractor Trailer Ministry for their faithful donations of benevolence and monetary items to help meet the needs of these children and their families. This mission post operates from those who have a giving heart ! Everyone is greatly appreciated for their labors of love to the needy children of West/ Virginia Appalachia.

You are welcome to join in and help us ! Email or call to see what you can do on the mission field.